Vehicle insurance in South Africa - Top Tips on How Not to Shop for Cheap Cover

Getting low vehicle insurance premiums in South Africa is hard enough on its own and there is no need for you to make it harder. Why do l say this? Because, having made thousands of quotes for car insurance buyers, l have observed a trend of mistakes being continously made by shoppers. The results are premiums that create a huge permanent hole in the bank account on a monthly basis. ln this article, l will discuss three major mistakes that l see being repeated consistently by people looking for affordable car insurance.

One key thing you must never do when shopping for a low vehicle insurance quote on the South African market is to complete the vehicle purchase process without knowing how much your insurance will cost. Auto insurance is such a huge expense especially when buying a financed vehicle that, to buy a car without knowing your insurance costs is total madness. So, as you frantically search the market for a car to buy, make sure that you simultaneously search for insurance quotations. This ensures that when you make your final purchase decision, you will have a clear picture of all the costs that go wih the purchase of the car.

The second thing that you must never do when shopping for an affordable vehile insurance premium in South Africa is to take the first quote that comes your way unless it is extraordinarily good. The more quotes you get, the luckier you become. If you are one of those people who is easily cornered by smooth talking car insurance salesman into taking the first quote you come across, you may only get a cheap quote by accident. l always advise that, if you have not yet secured at least ten quotes, you are not yet ready to purchase insurance cover. Premium differences amongst insurers can be so huge.

The third thing you must never do in your search for a low vehicle insurance quote is to believe that the salesman is acting purely in your interests. The salesman or even a broker is a commission earner and his commission is top on his mind as he deals with you no matter what he says. His primary concern therefore is to ensure that you accept whatever quote he gives you and make some money. The higher the premium, the more commission for him. Brokers have also been previously accused of placing business with those companies that give them the best incentives. So, maintain a cool head as you deal with these groups of people and accept the fact that getting an affordable premium is a responsibility that rests purely with you.

While there is no doubt that getting a low premium will always be a strugle for most of us, if you eliminate the above basic errors as you shop around, you will definitely get an affordable vehicle insurance quote from a credible South African insurer.

by Khumbulani Phiri